“Cassie-- wake up!”

I jump out of bed, now startled wide awake and throw on some clothes, before looking at the time.

“Who in the world wants me at 3 a.m.?” I think.

I open my door and walk outside to a completely dark sky and utter silence.

There’s no one there.

Usually, I hear God speak to me in thoughts or emotions that cannot possibly be my own or in reassurances and promises. It wasn’t until Tuesday morning when I heard what I am almost certain was an audible voice.

It wasn’t a quiet whispering in my spirit or a resounding word in my head, I awoke with confidence that there was someone outside my room beckoning me to come outside with them.

Unable to fall back asleep, I went and sat in my favorite spot. Every morning, I sit on the veranda of the clinic that faces the village to simply just watch life happen in the village. 

Instead of the joy I usually felt white sitting there, I kept thinking, “Why am I awake?!”

Honestly, I was angry about it. We had a long day on Monday and arrived to the village late that night. I knew Tuesday was going to be a long day because I would be participating in a 12+ hour field trip with 60 kids from Empowered Leader’s Academy, walking all day in the hot sun and not eating enough or consuming enough water. I knew it was going to be an exhausting day, so I had already determined to sleep in as late as possible to ensure I had enough sleep and energy.

But, here I am, wide awake after just four hours of sleep.

As I sat and stewed in my unhappiness about my current situation, I felt God tell me- this time in the still, small voice of my spirit-

“Look around and get ready. I’m about to do something big in your life. Are you listening to what other people have been telling you? I’ve already begun speaking to you through them.”

Then, Isaiah 43 was brought to my mind.

After reading the entire chapter a few times, verses 18-19 stood out.

“Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”

The Jews were so bound by their current unhappiness and circumstances, that they couldn’t see the promises and future that God had for them. 

God has given me huge promises and revelations about my future, but I keep losing sight of them because of my current situations. I keep trying to limit myself and logically reason out of things I am feeling because, it doesn’t seem like it is possible.

God has shown me two very big pieces that fit into my life puzzle this past week, beginning on Tuesday when I was able to just sit with him and listen.

Now, I just have to continue to sit with them for a while, process them fully and see what that means for my future, and tell my family and loved ones all about it.

Then, I will return to write about them here.

Hopefully, before I head back to the village, I will have at least one more blog that narrates the stories of two of the women in the Women’s Empowerment program that I’ve had the pleasure of meeting this past week.

But, all this was to say, God is doing something big with me in regards to Uganda, and the village, in particular. So, I’m asking for your prayers.

Pray for clear direction and guidance.

Pray for an open and attentive spirit.

Pray for provision and open doors.

Pray for words to come easily.

Pray for peace and acceptance, no matter what happens.

Also, I hope this can serve as a reminder to someone who needs to hear it today:

God has something to say to you or show you; make sure you’re listening and not so distracted by the little stuff, that you miss it all together.